This is Rob. No, he’s not a cowboy. He is dressed in character as “Dr. Rob”, Paleontologist. Discoverer of dinosaur fossils. More importantly, Bible teacher of a children’s class in Vacation Bible School.

     This year’s program was “Dino Detectives” where the children learned the truth from God’s Word about creation, the flood, dinosaurs, and how to be saved. There were at least 120 children attending each of the 5 days of classes and so far I’ve heard of at least 1 being saved. In Matthew 18,verses 11-14, we read the parable of the lost sheep. It says in verse 12, “…if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” If one got saved, the whole program was worth the effort.

     Getting back to “Dr. Rob”, I was so thankful for the heart he put into his VBS class for the little ones. He, his wife, and another couple put countless hours of preparation, setup, and study into making a truly memorable week for many kids, including one of mine. Each day my son came home he told me of the bible adventure he had been on, the stories told from the “dig site”, and a Bible verse each day for his heart. He awoke with anticipation each morning of a new and exciting day at VBS. These are days that he will carry with him into adulthood, laying a foundation of dedication I pray he will have for other children.

     So, thank you Rob, Kirsten, Craig, and Jeannette for investing your lives into my son. I know I speak for many other parents as well. Your investment is certainly eternal and rewards await you in heaven. I close with verse 14 of Matthew 18 in regards to children’s ministries and God’s will. “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

     Just hours after Karen’s funeral we found ourselves at our annual Men’s Campout.  Once a year all the men and boys get together for a night in the woods for food, fellowship, and fun. We slow down our busy schedules enough to spend time getting to know each other a little better. Those with sons are able to enjoy them in a different setting than at home. This year’s menu included New York Strip, hamburgers, hot dogs, and a variety of “to go withs”. It was a delicious feast. Food always tastes better when you’re camping.

     After dinner everyone gathered around the bonfire for a time of testimonies and a challenge from God’s Word. Many of the testimonies reflected on Karen’s funeral and what a wonderful service it was for her. (3 of her sons even came to the campout.) We were still sad yet happy for Karen as we knew where she was. The challenge this year was on the book of Esther. It is a wonderful story in the Bible. If you haven’t read it in a while, I would encourage you to do so. Esther has the opportunity to save the people of Israel as they had been sentenced to death throughout the land. The only problem is that in order to do so, she has to plead her case before King Ahasuerus. To go before the King if you were not called was punishable by death. Esther’s response? If I perish, I perish.

     In chapter 4 verse 14 her uncle Mordecai says to her,”For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther’s role in life was not merely to save herself as she already had found favor with King Ahasuerus. She now had the opportunity as God would use her to save an entire people. And if she didn’t, God would choose someone else.

     This was a good challenge to the men of our group. God may not be calling us to save a nation of people. He may not be calling us to work in full time ministry. But He has called us for a specific purpose. And we have the free will to fulfill that task or not. If we don’t, God will pass us over and use someone else. His will always gets fulfilled. When we got saved He did not save us so that we would be silent. He wants us to help others be saved as well. Queen Esther leaves with us a great example of being available for God, no matter what the outcome could be, even to the point of death. May we too have that same spirit of “Here am I Lord, send me.”

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As I mentioned in my last blog we lost a dear woman in our church who is now enjoying the blessings of Heaven. I attended the funeral service on Friday at our church. As I walked in, it was very quiet except for the muffled sadness and hushed weeping. On a screen in front played a slideshow of Karen’s life in pictures. Soft music accompanied the pics. I knew this was going to be hard. I sat down and tried to watch the picture dedication but it was pulling my heart out of my chest. As I looked around at the other 300 or so people I could tell it was just as hard for them. We certainly missed her and saying good-bye is never easy. Even when we know for sure we will see her again. For some reason death always surprises us. From the moment we are born, the timer begins to tick. You would think that would be our number one priority in making sure we understood what life and death were all about. But people live with blinders on (literally, from Satan) and when death come along, it takes us in the first round. No bargaining, no excuses, time’s up.

     A believer sorrows for a loved one such as Karen. The pain is very real but as the Bible says in 1Thessalonians 4:13, we do not sorrow for the dead as those that have no hope. Our service was definitely sad, but the Christians that were there were also happy for Karen as we know where she is. We have hope. We are not left wondering what happened to her, where she is, or even if she still in existence. We believe the Bible and we know that Karen was saved. Therefore, we know she is with Jesus in Heaven this very moment. She is talking with others who have gone there before. She is talking with Moses, and with Paul, and yes, even Adam and Eve. Sounds weird when I write it because I believe on faith. Karen’s faith however, has been fulfilled.

     At the cemetery, Karen’s husband and 5 boys stood in a circle each holding a white balloon. After reading a heart breaking good-bye, they released the balloons. There was no wind that day and the balloons floated together straight up until they were out of sight. I took a flower off of Karen’s casket to bring home. The service was finished. I will never see those balloons again, and the flower will soon die. But I am confident that one day soon I will see Karen again.

One of our friends met the Lord yesterday. Face to face in all His glory. At 2:00 she breathed her last earthly breath, surrounded by loved ones. She had been struggling with a tumor in her brain for the past 10 years. Doctors said she would never make it into 2008. On Monday the Lord called her home. She had to leave behind a loving husband and 5 sons. Of course we want to ask “why?”. It doesn’t make sense sometimes how the Lord works. But His ways are not our ways. Our wisdom is foolishness to Him.

     What makes this woman special is that even as she struggled with this physical curse, her heart and mind stayed on the Lord. She would witness to anyone, anytime, anywhere. She would give testimony after testimony in our Sunday School class of who she witnessed to or handed a tract to that week. Her soulwinning would put most of us to shame. Here’s a woman who was having seizures and could barely walk, yet would share her faith as often as she could. When most people would give up, this dear saint kept on. Only when the roll is called up yonder will she know the impact she had on so many lives.

     Goodbye Karen, and God bless you! We’ll see you on the other side.